U.S. cancels Senegal travel warning

WASHINGTON, April 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department said it canceled the travel advisory for Senegal as the country's first new president in 12 years was sworn into office.

The State Department issued a travel advisory March 2 warning U.S. citizens to be on high alert ahead of mid-March presidential elections.

Violence was reported in the country after a court rule Abdoulaye Wade could seek a third term in office despite term limits. Wade later lost in a runoff to former Prime Minister Macky Sall.

"On March 27, Senegal elected its fourth democratically elected president during the second round presidential election process with no incidents of violence," the State Department noted. "The department is, therefore, canceling the travel alert which was issued for the presidential election in Senegal."

U.S. President Barack Obama sent a delegation to the Senegalese capital to attend Sall's inauguration, which was Monday.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement issued through his spokesman's office, applauded Wade for accepting defeat gracefully. British Foreign Secretary William Hague echoed the sentiments, noting London looked forward to working with Senagal's new president.

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